Box dumper

ABSTRACT

Apparatus mountable on a forklift-type vehicle and adapted to be moved into engagement with an open top box, automatically clamped thereto so that the box can be rotated more than 90* to completely discharge the contents of the box, and then automatically released to remove the box from the apparatus.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1920 Sayers..........................

' {72] Inventprs George S. Brown;

Joe E. Hill, both of R0. Box 709, Leesburg, HI. 32748 2,288

5 353;; 4 1958 G h d Filed J. 2' "7o ,8 er ar [45] v Patented July 27, I97] Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Oresky Attorneys-A. Yates Dowell and A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

[54] BOX BUMPER 6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

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mvzw'mns GEORGE 5. BROWN JO E E. H I L L PATENTEDJULZTIH?! 3 595414 sum 2 0F 4 4 I uwnm'ols GEORGE 5. BROWN JOE E; HILL Tons s PATENTEI] JULZT nan SHEET u [If 4 INV ENTORS GEORGE s. BROWN JOE E. HILL BOX BUMPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the discharging of objects from containers and relates particularly to apparatus which will automatically clamp an open top box or container and dump or discharge the contents therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art Heretofore many efforts have been made to provide a forklift type of vehicle with means for receiving a box, raising the box to a desired level, and then dumping the contents of the box Most of these devices, such as the US. Pat. Nos. 3,199,697 to Gatz et a]. and 3,207,346 to Beutler et al., have utilized a chain or cable to tilt the box and this has limited the tilting of the box to less than 90" because the box is returned by gravity. German Pat. No. 931,579 discloses a forklift-type vehicle having a C-shapcd hook for removing and stacking boxes, cartons, barrels or the like, however, these would have a tendency to slip when approaching a vertical position. Other rather complicated structures have been provided; however, all of these prior art structures have failed to provide a simple dumping apparatus which will rotate an open top box more than 90 to completely discharge the contents therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an apparatus mountable on a forklift type of vehicle and adapted to receive an open top box, automatically clamp the box, rotate the box more than 90 to completely discharge the contents, return the box to a substantially level upright position, and release the box so that the vehicle can carry the box to a remote location and remove the same from the forklike arms for refilling or storage.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple device mountable on a forklift type of vehicle and having potions operable by a fluid cylinder for tilting a box more than 90 to completely discharge the contents therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective illustrating one application of the invention in retracted position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to the drawings a forklift type of vehicle has a generally upright frame 11 pivotally mounted thereon, which can be swung back and forth by fluid cylinder means 112. A movable frame 113 having outwardly extending lift arms 114 is adapted to be raised and lowered relative to the frame 11 by a fluid cylinder 15 or other means such as a chain, cable or the like. The structure thus far described is conventional in the prior art and forms no part of the present invention.

A base 21) is mounted on the movable 13 of the vehicle and such base includes a pair of upstanding lugs 21 to which a pivot 22 swingably connects one end of a fluid cylinder-23. A piston rod 24 extends outwardly of the cylinder 23 and such piston rod is extended and retracted by the introduction and discharge of fluid into and from the cylinder through fluid lines 25 and 26.

At its outer end, the piston rod 24 is connected by a pivot 27 to a connecting frame 28 located adjacent to the upper end thereof. Such connecting frame includes a pair of side members 29 connected by braces 30 and an upper crossmember 31. Side members 29 diverge outwardly and downwardly from the crossmember 31 and the lower end of each of such members is pivotally connected by a pivot 32 to lugs 33 carried by a tilt frame 34. The tilt frame 34 includes a pair of spaced box support arms 35 located adjacent to and generally parallel with the lift arms 14 when in the lowered position. One end of each lift arm is connected to one end of a support arm by a pivot 36 so that the support arms will swing about the ends of the lift arms. The opposite ends of the support arms 35 are welded or otherwise connected to a lower frame member 37 which in turn is connected by spaced generally upright posts 38 to an upper frame member 39.

The tilt frame 34 is adapted to receive an open top box or container 40 having sidewalls 41 and a bottom wall 42 Preferably, the sidewalls 41 have upper and lower reinforcing bands 43 and 44 respectively, extending entirely around the same.

With reference to FIGS. 14, in order to automatically secure the box 40 to the tilt frame 34 and permit the dumping of the contents from the box, the lower and upper frame members 37 and 39 extend outwardly to a position overlying the lift arms 14. A housing 45 having at least one end open is welded or otherwise mounted on the upper frame member 39 above each of the lift arms and a guide 46 is mounted on the lower frame member 37 substantially in vertical alignment with each of the housings 45. An elongated rod 47 is slidably received within the guide 46 and extends upwardly through openings 48 and 49 in the upper frame member 39 and housing 45, respectively.

Within the housing 45, a clamp 52, having a generally horizontal portion 53 terminating in a downwardly extending lip 54, is attached to the rod 47 in any desired manner, as by a pin 55. A compression spring 56 is located about the rod 47 between the clamp 52 and the top of the housing 45 so that when the tilt frame 34 is in its lowermost position, the lower end of the rods 47 engage the lift arms 14 and raise the clamp 52 against the tension of the springs 56. As soon as the tilt frame is pivoted about the pivots 36, the springs 56 will move the rods 47 downwardly so that the horizontal portion 53 of the clamp is in engagement with the top of the box and the lip 54 will be located within the box 40 to clamp the box in fixed position. At the lower end of the tilt frame, the lower frame member 37 extends outwardly a distance sufficient to overlie the lower band 44 and prevent movement of the box when such box is being dumped.

With reference to FIGS. 5-7, a clamp mechanism 60 is provided including upstanding lugs 61 carried by the upper frame member 39 and connected by a pivot 62 to one end of an elongated clamping arm 63. The arm 63 has a pair of spaced inner and outer box-engaging fingers 64 and 65 adapted to engage the inner rear portion and outer front portion, respectively, of the box 40 adjacent to the open top. Although the fingers 64 and 65 have been illustrated as fixed to the arm 63, it is contemplated that such fingers could be adjustable relative to the arm to accommodate boxes or containers of different sizes and configurations.

In order to raise and lower the clamping am] 63 automati cally, such arm has a projection 66 extending trom one side and an arcuate slot 67 located partially in the arm and partially in the projection. A yoke 68 is welded or otherwise attached to the top of the rod 47 and has a pin 69 slidably received within the slot 67. A collar 70 is fixed to the rod 47 by any desired means, such as a pin 71, and spaced below the upper frame member 39. A compression spring 72 is disposed about the rod between the collar 70 and the lower surface of the upper frame member 39 so that the rod normally will be urged downwardly.

At the lower portion of the tilt frame 34, the lower frame member 37 does not extend outwardly to a position overlying the lift arms 14, but instead terminates at the support arms 35. A guide 73 is mounted on the upright post 38 at each side of the tilt frame 34 and such guides slidably receive the rods 47 and maintain such rods over the lift arms 14. Above the guide 73, a lower clamp 74 is welded or otherwise attached to the rod 47 and such lower clamp is adapted to engage the lower reinforcing band 44 of the box when the tilt frame 34 is raised.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outer ends of the lift arms 14 preferably are provided with an angular surface 75 which has been roughened or provided with a series of ridges which resist sliding movement of the box while such box is being dumped.

In the operation of the device, the vehicle maneuvers until the lift arms 14 and the support arms 35 are located below a box 40 containing material to be discharged. The fluid cylinder 15 is operated to raise the movable frame 13 to lift the box off of its supporting surface and raise the same to any desired height after which the vehicle is driven to a desired location having facilities for receiving the material within the box. When the vehicle is in position, the fluid cylinder 23 is operated to raise the connecting frame 28 and swing the tilt frame 34 about the pivots 36 connecting the same to the lift arms l4. In the modification illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, as soon as the rear of the tilt frame is raised, the spring 56 will move the clamp 52 and the elongated rod 47 downwardly until the horizontal portion 53 engages the top of the box and the lip 54 is disposed within the box. Continued movement of the fluid cylinder 23 will continue to pivot the tilt frame about the pivots 36 until the box has been moved through an arc of approximately 110 so that substantially all of the material within the box is discharged by gravity. As soon as the material is discharged, the introduction of fluid under pressure into the fluid cylinder 23 is reversed and the box is returned to its normal position. As the tilt frame approaches its normal position, the elongated rods 47 at each side will engage the lift arms 14 and will force the clamps 52 upwardly against the tension of the spring 56 so that the empty box can be removed and replaced with another box to be dumped.

In the modification illustrated in FIGS, 57, the clamping arm 63 is in a substantially vertical position when the tilt frame 34 is retracted. However, when the fluid cylinder 23 is operated to swing the tilt frame about the pivots 36, the spring 72 will move the elongated rod 47 downwardly until the lower clamp 74 is substantially in engagement with the lower reinforcing band 44. Simultaneously the pin 69 will bear against the lower edge of the slot 67 and cause the clamping arm 63 to swing about the pivot 62 to a generally horizontal position, as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 6, in which the inner fingers 64 are disposed within the box and in engagement with the inner rear sidewall, while the outer fingers 65 are in engagement with the outer front reinforcing band 43. The clamp mechanism 60 and the lower clamp 74 will maintain the box in fixed position relative to the tilt frame 34 so that the box can move through an angle of approximately 1 10, as previously described. When the tilt frame is returned to its usual position, the elongated rods 47 will engage the lift arms 14 and move upwardly against the tension of the spring 72. The upward movement of the rod will cause the pin 69 to bear against the upper surface of the slot 67 and move the clamping arm 63 to a substantially vertical position, as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 6.

We claim:

1. Apparatus mountable on a forklift-type vehicle and used for dumping the contents from open-topped containers, comprising a tilt frame having support arms swingably connected to the lift arms of said vehicle, said tilt frame including upper and lower spaced generally parallel frame members, an elongated rod slidably mounted at each side of said tilt frame, clamp means connected to said rod and adapted to selectively engage an open-topped container located on said support arms, means urging said elongated rods toward the lowermost position so that when said support arms are raised the means urging said rods will move said clamp means into engagement with a container carried by said support arms and when said support arms are lowered said rods will engage the lift arms of the vehicle and automatically release the container, and means for swinging said tilt frame relative to said lift arms,

whereby a container will be automatically clamped when said tilt frame is moved upwardly to dump the contents from the container and the container will be automatically released when the tilt frame is returned to its lowered position.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said clamp means includes a horizontal portion fixed at one end to said rod and said opposite end having a depending lip adapted to be received within the container.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said clamp means includes a clamp arm swingably connected to said upper frame member, spaced depending fingers carried by said clamp arm, and means providing a pivotal connection between said clamp arm and the upper portion of said elongated rod, whereby movement of said rod will move said clamp arm about said swingable connection.

4. The structure of claim 3 in which one of said depending fingers is adapted to engage the rear portion of the container and another finger is adapted to engage the outer front portion of the container.

5. The structure of claim 3 in which said means pivotally connected the elongated rod to said clamp arm includes an arcuate slot in said am, and pin means carried by said elongated rod and slidably received within said slot.

6. The combination of a forklift vehicle and a container dumping mechanism, said forklift vehicle having a pair of outwardly extending generally parallel lift arms, and means for raising and lowering said lift arms selectively, said container dumping mechanism including a tilt frame having a pair of outwardly extending support arms normally disposed generally parallel with said lift arms, means pivotally connecting said support arms to said lift arms adjacent to one end of each, said tilt frame having upper and lower generally parallel frame members with at least the upper frame member overlying said lift arms, an elongated rod slidably carried adjacent to each end of said upper frame member, guide means carried by said tilt frame and slidably receiving the lower portion of said elongated rods to maintain said rods generally in alignment with said lift arms, clamp means connected to each of said elongated rods adjacent to the upper end thereof, spring means urging said elongated rods downwardly, and means for swinging said tilt frame about said pivot, whereby when said tilt frame is swung upwardly said spring means will urge the clamp means into engagement with a container carried by said support arms to lock the container in position and when said tilt frame is swung downwardly said elongated rods will engage the lift arms of the forklift and automatically release the clamp means from the container. 

1. Apparatus mountable on a forklift-type vehicle and used for dumping the contents from open-topped containers, comprising a tilt frame having support arms swingably connected to the lift arms of said vehicle, said tilt frame including upper and lower spaced generally parallel frame members, an elongated rod slidably mounted at each side of said tilt frame, clamp means connected to said rod and adapted to selectively engage an opentopped container located on said support arms, means urging said elongated rods toward the lowermost position so that when said support arms are raised the means urging said rods will move said clamp means into engagement with a container carried by said support arms and when said support arms are lowered said rods will engage the lift arms of the vehicle and automatically release the container, and means for swinging said tilt frame relative to said lift arms, whereby a container will be automatically clamped when said tilt frame is moved upwardly to dump the contents from the container and the container will be automatically released when the tilt frame is returned to its lowered position.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said clamp means includes a horizontal portion fixed at one end to said rod and said opposite end having a depending lip adapted to be received within the container.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said clamp means includes a clamp arm swingably connected to said upper frame member, spaced depending fingers carried by said clamp arm, and means providing a pivotal connection between said clamp arm and the upper portion of said elongated rod, whereby movement of said rod will move said clamp arm about said swingable connection.
 4. The structure of claim 3 in which one of said depending fingers is adapted to engage the rear portion of the container and another finger is adapted to engage the outer front portion of the container.
 5. The structure of claim 3 in which said means pivotally connected the elongated rod to said clamp arm includes an arcuate slot in said arm, and pin means carried by said elongated rod and slidably received within said slot.
 6. The combination of a forklift vehicle and a container dumping mechanism, said forklift vehicle having a pair of outwardly extending generally parallel lift arms, and means for raising and lowering said lift arms selectively, said container dumping mechanism including a tilt frame having a pair of outwardly extending support arms normally disposed generally parallel with said lift arms, means pivotally connecting said support arms to said lift arms adjacent to one end of each, said tilt frame having upper and lower generally parallel frame members with at least the upper frame member overlying said lift arms, an elongated rod slidably carried adjacent to each end of said upper frame member, guide means carried by said tilt frame and slidably receiving the lower portion of said elongated rods to maintain said rods generally in alignment with said lift arms, clamp means connected to each of said elongated rods adjacent to the upper end thereof, spring means urging said elongated rods downwardly, and means for swinging said tilt frame about said pivot, whereby when said tilt frame is swung upwardly said spring means will urge the clamp means into engagement with a container carried by said support arms to lock the container in position and when said tilt frame is swung downwardly said elongated rods will engage the lift arms of the forklift and automatically release the clamp means from the container. 